Internet based telephone line

ABSTRACT

A telephone service method that provides subscribers with the functionality of an extra telephone line during data/Internet sessions. Each subscriber has a unique telephone number Dns that can be dialed by anyone with access to the PSTN. When the Dns is dialed the call will be routed via the PSTN to the ILTD server. The ILTD server upon receiving the call attempt from the Dnc will analyze the dialed number (Dns) and determine if the subscriber&#39;s computer is able to receive the telephone call. If the subscriber&#39;s computer is actively engaged in an Internet Protocol session, with the ILTD client software running, the ILTD server will connect the call over the Internet to the ILTD client software. The ILTD client software will activate the subscriber&#39;s sound card and the microphone to play audio and receive input from the microphone to allow the subscriber and the calling party to have a full duplex telephone conversation (i.e. using voice-over-IP technology).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S.application Ser. No. 09/567,758, filed on May 9, 2000 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,408,919), titled “Internet Based Telephone Line,” and to CanadianApplication 2,271,828, entitled “INTERNET BASED TELEPHONE LINE,” filedon May 11, 1999, the entire contents of both of which are incorporatedby reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of providing telephone service overan Internet Protocol (IP) network, and more particularly, to theprovision of full duplex local telephone service and call managementfeatures over an IP based network terminating to a personal computer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, the only practical and affordable method to provide localvoice telephone service (and associated call management features) is torent a physical copper circuit from the local telephone company. Thecopper circuit would connect the customer premise equipment (CPE) to acentral switching office (CO) of a Public Switched Telephone Network(PSTN). The CO is responsible for hosting the subscriber's public dialnumber and routing the calls to the subscriber's line when the number isdialed. Additionally, the CO is responsible for providing some callmanagement features such as Caller-ID and Call Waiting type services.

Consequently, there is a need for a system and method for providinglocal telephone services over an IP based network to mitigate therequirement of renting a copper circuit from a telephone company.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a system and method forestablishing the equivalent of local telephone service over an IP basednetwork.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provideda method for providing notification and support for incoming callshaving a dialed number identifier associated with a computer incommunication with an Internet Protocol based data communicationsnetwork wherein the data communications network is connected to a publicswitched telephone network (PSTN) via a call direction server, saidmethod comprising the steps of: notifying the computer when an incomingcall is detected on the call direction server; receiving an indicationof a selected response action from the computer; and processing theincoming call according to the selected response action.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there isprovided a method for providing notification and support for incomingcalls having a dialed number identifier associated with a computer incommunication with an Internet Protocol based data communicationsnetwork wherein the data communications network is connected to a publicswitched telephone network (PSTN) via a call direction server having adatabase of all valid subscriber dialed number identifiers, said methodcomprising the steps of: obtaining dialed number information about thecall from the PSTN; comparing the dialed number information to validsubscriber dialed number identifiers in the database; and providing amessage to the computer having a computer address corresponding to thedialed number identifier.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there isprovided a method for providing notification and support for incomingcalls having a dialed number identifier associated with a computer incommunication with an Internet Protocol based data communicationsnetwork wherein the data communications network is connected to a publicswitched telephone network (PSTN) via a call direction server, saidmethod comprising the steps of: receiving notification of an incomingcall; providing a list of response actions for the incoming call; andsending an indication of a selected response action for the incomingcall.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in conjunction with the drawingsin which:

FIG. 1A illustrates a schematic overview of a network embodying themethod and apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating the components of the ILTDserver of FIG. 1A according to an embodiment of the present invention;and

FIGS. 2A and 2B represent a flow chart illustrating the steps of theInternet based telephone line functionality according to an embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on exploiting the growth of affordablehigh speed Internet access services such as Asynchronous DigitalSubscriber Line (ADSL) and Data-over-Cable (DOC). These high-speedservices establish a permanent, “always-on”, connection to an IP basednetwork. The present invention provides a system and method forproviding existing and new voice telephone service delivery in the formof digital packet data over a logical circuit.

Referring to FIG. 1A there is provided a system 10 of the networkcomponents and interfaces required by the present invention. An InternetLine-Two Director (ILTD) server 12 is connected to a switching point 14(e.g. a DMS host switch) by an Integrated Services Digital Network(ISDN) Private Rate Interface (PRI) link 16.

The ILTD server 12 is also connected to the Internet 18 through standardTCP/IP lines 20. Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) 22 (including acomputer 24 having a soundcard 24A, a microphone 24B, ILTD clientsoftware 26, and a modem 28, and a telephone 30) is connected to theInternet 18 through another switching point 32. The ILTD server 12 isalso connected to a PSTN (public switched telephone network) domain 34having a DMS switch 35 through ISDN-PRI links 36. A calling telephone 38is connected to the switch 14 for placing calls to, for example, thetelephone 30.

In the present description, the links 16 and 36 are standard ISDN trunksconsisting of 23 B channels and one D (signaling channel). In aconfiguration where there are multiple PRI trunks, there may be a sharedD channel, which is used by multiple links. Subsequent links, whichdepend on the initial D channel, have 24 B channels. Further,traditional call processing functions are based on the well knownAdvanced Intelligent Network (AIN) using standard out of band signaling,such as the Signaling System 7 (SS7) protocol.

The above components can be implemented in various ways. A singlecomponent can be implemented as stand-alone network equipment, multiplecomponents can be combined in a single item of network equipment or agiven component can be partitioned over two or more items of networkequipment.

The following terms are used in the subsequent description and drawings:

-   -   Caller's dial number (DN) is Dnc (e.g. from telephone 38)    -   Caller's name is name_c    -   Subscriber's DN is Dns (e.g. for telephone 30)    -   Subscriber's Name is name_s

The method of the present invention is a subscription based telephoneservice that provides subscribers with the functionality of an extratelephone line. Each subscriber 22 has a unique telephone number Dnsassociated with their telephone 30 that can be dialed by anyone withaccess to the PSTN 34. When the Dns is dialed (e.g. by a user oftelephone 38) the call is routed to the ILTD server 12 through the PSTN34 using standard AIN/SS7 signaling.

The ILTD server 12 upon receiving the call attempt from the Dnc willanalyze the dialed number (Dns) and determine if the subscriber'scomputer 24 is able to receive the telephone call. If the subscriber'scomputer 24 is actively engaged in a data communications session overthe Internet 18 with the ILTD client software 26 running, the ILTDserver 12 will connect the call over the Internet 18 to the ILTD clientsoftware 26.

The ILTD client software 26 will activate the subscriber's sound card24A and the microphone 24B to play audio and receive input from themicrophone 24B to allow the subscriber and the calling party to have afull duplex telephone conversation.

Each subscriber typically has a subscription to an Internet accessservice; either a dialup service or a dedicated access service. It ispreferable that the subscribers use a high-speed access service toenable a high level of throughput for the digitally compressed voicestream.

In each local calling area (covered by a typical Local Exchange Carrier{LEC}) at least one computer telephony server (for example an industrialPentium□ rack mounted computer running the Solaris□ operating system) isrequired.

As discussed above, the ILTD server 12 is connected to the Internet 18via one or more high speed dedicated connections 20 to an Internetservice provider. To enable high throughput and faster communicationwith customers, multiple high-speed links could be connected to the ILTDserver 12.

The PRI ISDN trunks 16, 36 offer the ability to have an unlimited numberof direct-inward-dial (DID) numbers that route to the ILTD server 12.These DID numbers will be assigned to individual subscribers. When callsare routed to the ILTD server 12 via the PRI trunks 16, the DID numberis identified to the ILTD server 12 by the switch 14. This notifies theILTD server 12 which subscriber is being called. In addition toidentifying the dialed number (Dns), the PRI trunk 36 carries thecalling party number (Dnc) and name (name_c) information as well asother standard call setup data according to the standard AIN call modeland SS7 signaling.

The ILTD server 12 includes a number of components as illustrated inFIG. 1B. Each component has a different responsibility in enabling theIP based telephone line of the present invention. The components of theILTD server 12 work in conjunction with industry standard digital signalprocessing hardware, which is installed in the ILTD server 12. In atypical configuration, the ILTD server 12 includes one or more PRI or T1network interface cards 40 (such as the Dialogic□ D240SCT1), one or morevoice processing boards 42 (such as the Natural Microsystems□ AG48), oneor more voice-over-IP encoding/decoding (vocoder) boards 44 (such as theNatural Microsystems Fusion□ board) and one or more Ethernet interfaceboards 46. Each of these components includes an Application ProgrammingInterface (API) well known to those skilled in the art.

Using the components 40, 42, 44 and 46 listed above, the ILTD server 12includes the following modules:

PSTN Network Interface (PNI) module: The PNI module operates the PSTNnetwork interface cards 40 and enables the termination telephone callsoffered by the serving switch 35 of the PSTN 34. The PNI module isresponsible for capturing the Dns, Dnc and name_c that are delivered tothe ILTD server 12 over a PRI 16 or equivalent trunk. Alternatively, thePSTN Network Interface module functions can be implemented using an SS7interface.

Voice Processing (VP) module: The VP module operates the voicingprocessing board 42 and the vocoder 44 to perform all voice processingrelated functions such as the playback of audio prompts and the like.

State Management (SM) module: The SM module is responsible for trackingthe presence of subscribers. When a subscriber's computer 24 is activeand connected to the Internet 18, the ILTD client software 26 willnotify the ILTD server 12 by sending a login request to the ILTD server12. The login request contains the subscriber's IP address along withtheir DN, password and other service related parameters (such as versionof the service to which they subscribe). When the SM module receives thelogin request it validates or denies the request.

If the request is validated the subscriber is considered and able toreceive or make telephone calls over the Internet 18. The SM modulecontinues to monitor the presence of the subscriber throughout the lifeof their connection. The ILTD client software 26 will periodically senda confirmation message to the ILTD server 12 notifying it that it isstill connected. If the SM module does not receive a confirmationmessage from the ILTD client software 26 within a predetermined time,such as every 3 minutes, it will attempt to communicate with thesubscriber, at the previously recorded IP address, to determine if theyare still connected.

The ILTD client software 26 is a compiled software application residingon the subscriber's computer 24. The ILTD software 26 acts as the ‘softtelephone’ for the subscriber. Its function is to monitor for thepresence of an Internet connection on the subscriber's computer 24 andonce found, attempt to authenticate itself with the appropriate ILTDserver 12. The authentication process involves the transmission of thesubscriber's telephone number (Dns), a password, an IP (InternetProtocol) address and other subscriber profile data.

The ILTD client software 26 also has the responsibility of communicatingwith multimedia hardware/software (sound card 24 a, microphone 24 b) andoperating systems on the computer 24. This enables the subscriber tocommunicate via

voice through the computer 24 back to the ILTD server 12 and ultimatelyback to the calling party (Dnc and name_c).

IP Based Telephone Line Call Processing Method—Receiving Calls

A call processing method according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated in the flow chart of FIGS. 2A and 2B.

Step 50: The subscriber's computer 24 is activated and connected to theInternet 18 using any one of many well known methods, including dialupover a standard POTS line, ISDN, cable modem, ADSL or “1 Meg” modem typeservice.

Step 52: The ILTD client software 26 sends an authentication requestmessage to the ILTD server 12 via the Internet 18.

Steps 54 and 55: The ILTD server 12 either authenticates or denies therequest (proceed to step 56 if authenticates, terminated at step 55 ifILTD server 12 denies the request).

Step 56 Call is made to the subscriber's telephone number (Dns).

Step 58: Call is routed via the PSTN 34 and offered to the ILTD server12. Call setup message containing the subscriber number (Dns), callingparty number (Dnc), calling party name (name_c) is delivered to the ILTDserver 12.

Steps 60 and 61: The ILTD server 12 verifies that the subscriber is avalid subscriber and whether or not they are authenticated, meaning theyare connected to the Internet 18 (proceed to step 62 if yes, Internetbased telephone line is inactive at stage 61).

Step 62: ILTD server 12 sends the call request/notification via theInternet 18 to the ILTD client software 26. This notification containsthe calling party number (Dnc) and name (name_c).

Step 64 and 65: ILTD client software 26 initiates a ‘popup’ window onthe computer screen indicating that someone is calling. The subscribercan select to answer (proceed to step 66) or perform other callprocessing functions at step 65 (such as transfer call, ignore call,acknowledge call by playing a prescribed message, or send the call tovoice mail).

Step 66: The ILTD client software 26 sends a Call Accept message back tothe ILTD server 12.

Step 68: The ILTD server 12 negotiates with the ILTD client software 26or appropriate voice software communications packages (via standardH.323 protocol) to establish a voice telephone call using InternetProtocol (i.e. voice-over-Internet-Protocol: VOIP) between the ILTDserver 12 and the subscriber's computer 24.

The subscriber 22 can also use telephone 30 to make outgoing calls usingVOIP when an Internet session is activated on the computer 24 followingthe basic principles outlined in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In particular, whenthe subscriber 22 has an active Internet connection the computer 24 isused to establish a VOIP call through the Internet 18 using the ILTDserver 12.

In summary, the IP based telephone line service of the present inventiondoes not merely redirect a call from the subscriber's POTS line. The DIDnumber is actually hosted on the ILTD server 12 and when it is dialedthe call is connected to the ILTD server 12 then converted to VOIP toget to the subscriber 22.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: registering call processingfunctions with a signaling system to route calls to unique party numbersto a call direction device, wherein the call direction device isconfigured to: interface with a circuit switched network to receive oneor more calls routed to the call direction device with the registeredcall processing functions at the signaling system, communicate InternetProtocol (IP) data with a data communications network, and provide calldirection services for received calls from the circuit switched networkusing communication of IP data with the data communications network;receiving a call routed to the call direction device with the registeredcall processing functions at the signaling system, the call received atthe call direction device and from the circuit switched network;obtaining dialed number information corresponding to a unique partynumber registered at the signaling system; identifying a called partyand a computer address by comparing the dialed number informationcorresponding to the unique party number registered at the signalingsystem to dialed number identifiers; and providing a message to theidentified computer address using the data communications network. 2.The method of claim 1 wherein to interface with the circuit switchednetwork to receive one or more calls routed to the call directiondevice, the call direction device is configured to interface with atelephone switch in a public switched telephone network.
 3. The methodof claim 2 wherein obtaining the dialed number information correspondingto the unique party number registered at the signaling system includesinterfacing with a telephone switch hosting the dialed numberidentifiers.
 4. The method of claim 2 wherein obtaining the dialednumber information corresponding to the unique party number registeredat the signaling system includes interfacing with the telephone switchin the public switched telephone network.
 5. The method of claim 4further comprising including the dialed number information correspondingto the unique party number in the provided message to the identifiedcomputer address.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying thecalled party and the corresponding computer address by comparing thedialed number information corresponding to the unique party numberregistered at the signaling system to the dialed number identifiersincludes comparing the dialed number information related to the uniqueparty number registered at the signaling system to the called party'spersonal telephone number.
 7. The method of claim 1 further comprisingreceiving state and registration information of the identified calledparty.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein receiving state and registrationinformation includes communicating with the computer address using thedata communications network.
 9. The method of claim 7 wherein receivingthe state and registration information includes receiving a label for aname of a registered party.
 10. The method of claim 7 further comprisingupdating a database with the received state and registrationinformation.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein updating the databaseincludes continually monitoring a presence of the called partythroughout a duration of a connection between the computer of thecomputer address and the call direction device.
 12. A call directiondevice configured to: interface with a circuit switched network toreceive one or more calls routed to the call direction device with acall routing device of a signaling system, wherein the call routingdevice includes registered call processing functions to route calls tounique party numbers to the call direction device; receive a call routedto the call direction device on the circuit switched network, the callrouted with the call routing device according to the registered callprocessing functions; obtain dialed number information corresponding toa unique party number registered at the signaling system; identify acalled party and a computer address by comparing the dialed numberinformation corresponding to the unique party number registered at thesignaling system to dialed number identifiers; and provide a message tothe identified computer address using a data communications network. 13.The device of claim 12 wherein to interface with the circuit switchednetwork to receive one or more calls routed to the call direction devicewith the call routing device, the call direction device is configured tointerface with a telephone switch in a public switched telephonenetwork.
 14. The device of claim 13 wherein to obtain the dialed numberinformation corresponding to the unique party number registered at thesignaling system, the call direction device is configured to interfacewith the telephone switch in the public switched telephone network. 15.The device of claim 14 wherein the call direction device is configuredto include the dialed number information corresponding to the uniqueparty number in the message provided to the identified computer address.16. The device of claim 12 wherein to identify the called party and thecomputer address by comparing the dialed number informationcorresponding to the unique party number registered at the signalingsystem to the dialed number identifiers, the call direction device isconfigured to compare the dialed number information corresponding to theunique party number registered at the signaling system to the calledparty's personal telephone number.
 17. The device of claim 12 whereinthe call direction device is configured to receive state andregistration information of the identified called party.
 18. The deviceof claim 17 wherein to receive state and registration information, thecall direction device is configured to communicate with the computeraddress using the data communications network.
 19. The device of claim17 wherein to receive state and registration information, the calldirection device is configured to receive a label for a name of aregistered party.
 20. The device of claim 17 wherein the call directiondevice is configured to update a database with the received state andregistration information.
 21. The device of claim 20 wherein to updatethe database, the call direction device is configured to continuallymonitor a presence of the called party throughout a duration of aconnection between the computer of the computer address and the calldirection device.